A total of 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. The U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent estimate of the annual economic cost of crashes is $242 billion dollars.
Blincoe, L.J.; Miller, T.R.; Zaloshnja, E. and Lawrence, B.A. 2015. The economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes, 2010 (revised). Report no. DOT HS-812-013. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speeding, lack of safety belt use and other problematic driver behaviors. Death rates vary by vehicle type, driver age and gender, and other factors.

In 1975, the U.S. Department of Transportation started an annual census of motor vehicle deaths, recording information on crash type, vehicle type, road type, driver characteristics and a variety of other factors. Institute researchers analyze these data each year to quantify the public health problem of motor vehicle deaths.

Data subsections:

Trends

A total of 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. These deaths occurred in 34,247 crashes involving 52,645 motor vehicles. This was a 2 percent decrease in deaths compared with 2016.

Number of deaths, crashes and motor vehicles in fatal crashes, 1975-2017

Year

Deaths

Crashes

Motor vehicles

1975

44,525

39,161

55,534

1976

45,523

39,747

56,084

1977

47,878

42,211

60,516

1978

50,331

44,433

64,144

1979

51,093

45,223

64,762

1980

51,091

45,284

63,485

1981

49,301

44,000

62,699

1982

43,945

39,092

56,455

1983

42,589

37,976

55,106

1984

44,257

39,631

57,972

1985

43,825

39,196

58,272

1986

46,087

41,090

60,792

1987

46,390

41,438

61,836

1988

47,087

42,130

62,703

1989

45,582

40,741

60,870

1990

44,599

39,836

59,292

1991

41,508

36,937

54,795

1992

39,250

34,942

52,227

1993

40,150

35,780

53,777

1994

40,716

36,254

54,911

1995

41,817

37,241

56,524

1996

42,065

37,494

57,347

1997

42,013

37,324

57,060

1998

41,501

37,107

56,922

1999

41,717

37,140

56,820

2000

41,945

37,526

57,594

2001

42,196

37,862

57,918

2002

43,005

38,491

58,426

2003

42,884

38,477

58,877

2004

42,836

38,444

58,729

2005

43,510

39,252

59,495

2006

42,708

38,648

58,094

2007

41,259

37,435

56,253

2008

37,423

34,172

50,660

2009

33,883

30,862

45,540

2010

32,999

30,296

44,862

2011

32,479

29,867

44,119

2012

33,782

31,006

45,960

2013

32,894

30,203

45,102

2014

32,744

30,056

44,950

2015

35,485

32,539

49,477

2016

37,806

34,748

52,714

2017

37,133

34,247

52,645

Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily since 1975, the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 population in 2017 is about half of what it was four decades ago. In 2017, the overall per capita death rate decreased 3 percent compared with 2016.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by type, 1975-2017

Year

Population

Passenger vehicle occupants

Pedestrians

Motorcyclists

Bicyclists

Large truck occupants

All motor vehicle deaths*

Number

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

Rate

Number

Rate

1975

215,973,199

30,601

14.2

7,516

3.5

3,180

1.5

1,003

0.5

916

0.4

44,525

20.6

1976

218,035,164

31,724

14.5

7,427

3.4

3,306

1.5

914

0.4

1,100

0.5

45,523

20.9

1977

220,239,425

32,823

14.9

7,732

3.5

4,099

1.9

922

0.4

1,229

0.6

47,878

21.7

1978

222,584,545

34,923

15.7

7,795

3.5

4,574

2.1

892

0.4

1,315

0.6

50,331

22.6

1979

225,055,487

35,026

15.6

8,096

3.6

4,892

2.2

932

0.4

1,372

0.6

51,093

22.7

1980

227,224,719

34,996

15.4

8,070

3.6

5,138

2.3

965

0.4

1,183

0.5

51,091

22.5

1981

229,465,608

33,711

14.7

7,837

3.4

4,896

2.1

936

0.4

1,082

0.5

49,301

21.5

1982

231,664,496

29,656

12.8

7,331

3.2

4,449

1.9

864

0.4

917

0.4

43,945

19.0

1983

233,791,903

29,154

12.5

6,826

2.9

4,260

1.8

830

0.4

960

0.4

42,589

18.2

1984

235,824,783

30,094

12.8

7,025

3.0

4,602

2.0

838

0.4

1,040

0.4

44,257

18.8

1985

237,923,732

29,848

12.5

6,808

2.9

4,562

1.9

869

0.4

941

0.4

43,825

18.4

1986

240,132,841

32,224

13.4

6,779

2.8

4,566

1.9

929

0.4

892

0.4

46,087

19.2

1987

242,289,023

33,145

13.7

6,745

2.8

4,034

1.7

940

0.4

821

0.3

46,390

19.1

1988

244,498,836

34,105

13.9

6,870

2.8

3,661

1.5

901

0.4

886

0.4

47,087

19.3

1989

246,819,119

33,599

13.6

6,556

2.7

3,135

1.3

822

0.3

822

0.3

45,582

18.5

1990

249,464,396

32,711

13.1

6,482

2.6

3,243

1.3

853

0.3

684

0.3

44,599

17.9

1991

252,153,092

30,810

12.2

5,801

2.3

2,805

1.1

836

0.3

650

0.3

41,508

16.5

1992

255,029,699

29,457

11.6

5,549

2.2

2,395

0.9

717

0.3

580

0.2

39,250

15.4

1993

257,782,608

29,994

11.6

5,649

2.2

2,445

0.9

806

0.3

590

0.2

40,150

15.6

1994

260,327,021

30,820

11.8

5,489

2.1

2,317

0.9

796

0.3

658

0.3

40,716

15.6

1995

262,803,276

31,914

12.1

5,584

2.1

2,226

0.8

828

0.3

634

0.2

41,817

15.9

1996

265,228,572

32,354

12.2

5,449

2.1

2,161

0.8

761

0.3

602

0.2

42,065

15.9

1997

267,783,607

32,343

12.1

5,321

2.0

2,116

0.8

811

0.3

717

0.3

42,013

15.7

1998

270,248,003

31,781

11.8

5,228

1.9

2,294

0.8

757

0.3

739

0.3

41,501

15.4

1999

272,690,813

32,008

11.7

4,939

1.8

2,483

0.9

750

0.3

747

0.3

41,717

15.3

2000

282,192,162

32,109

11.4

4,763

1.7

2,895

1.0

689

0.2

737

0.3

41,945

14.9

2001

285,102,075

31,938

11.2

4,901

1.7

3,195

1.1

729

0.3

691

0.2

42,196

14.8

2002

287,941,220

32,724

11.4

4,851

1.7

3,267

1.1

663

0.2

675

0.2

43,005

14.9

2003

290,788,976

32,166

11.1

4,774

1.6

3,710

1.3

626

0.2

703

0.2

42,884

14.7

2004

293,655,404

31,750

10.8

4,675

1.6

4,026

1.4

722

0.2

743

0.3

42,836

14.6

2005

296,410,404

31,455

10.6

4,892

1.7

4,575

1.5

784

0.3

758

0.3

43,510

14.7

2006

299,398,484

30,628

10.2

4,795

1.6

4,810

1.6

769

0.3

774

0.3

42,708

14.3

2007

301,621,157

29,155

9.7

4,699

1.6

5,174

1.7

699

0.2

745

0.2

41,259

13.7

2008

304,059,724

25,547

8.4

4,414

1.5

5,307

1.7

716

0.2

615

0.2

37,423

12.3

2009

307,006,550

23,507

7.7

4,109

1.3

4,467

1.5

628

0.2

449

0.1

33,883

11.0

2010

308,745,538

22,351

7.2

4,302

1.4

4,517

1.5

621

0.2

475

0.2

32,999

10.7

2011

311,591,917

21,413

6.9

4,457

1.4

4,630

1.5

680

0.2

555

0.2

32,479

10.4

2012

313,914,040

21,906

7.0

4,818

1.5

4,986

1.6

730

0.2

590

0.2

33,782

10.8

2013

316,128,839

21,361

6.8

4,779

1.5

4,691

1.5

747

0.2

589

0.2

32,894

10.4

2014

318,857,056

21,131

6.6

4,910

1.5

4,594

1.4

723

0.2

585

0.2

32,744

10.3

2015

321,418,820

22,741

7.1

5,495

1.7

5,026

1.6

828

0.3

598

0.2

35,485

11.0

2016

323,405,935

23,957

7.4

6,080

1.9

5,337

1.7

848

0.3

662

0.2

37,806

11.7

2017

325,719,178

23,708

7.3

5,977

1.8

5,172

1.6

777

0.2

683

0.2

37,133

11.4

*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-four percent of crash fatalities in 2017 were passenger vehicle occupants, 16 percent were pedestrians, 14 percent were motorcyclists, 2 percent were bicyclists, and 2 percent were occupants of large trucks.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by type, 1975-2017

Year

Passenger vehicle occupants

Pedestrians

Motorcyclists

Bicyclists

Large truck occupants

Other

All motor vehicle deaths

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

%

Number

1975

30,601

69

7,516

17

3,180

7

1,003

2

916

2

1,309

3

44,525

1976

31,724

70

7,427

16

3,306

7

914

2

1,100

2

1,052

2

45,523

1977

32,823

69

7,732

16

4,099

9

922

2

1,229

3

1,073

2

47,878

1978

34,923

69

7,795

15

4,574

9

892

2

1,315

3

832

2

50,331

1979

35,026

69

8,096

16

4,892

10

932

2

1,372

3

775

2

51,093

1980

34,996

68

8,070

16

5,138

10

965

2

1,183

2

739

1

51,091

1981

33,711

68

7,837

16

4,896

10

936

2

1,082

2

839

2

49,301

1982

29,656

67

7,331

17

4,449

10

864

2

917

2

728

2

43,945

1983

29,154

68

6,826

16

4,260

10

830

2

960

2

559

1

42,589

1984

30,094

68

7,025

16

4,602

10

838

2

1,040

2

658

1

44,257

1985

29,848

68

6,808

16

4,562

10

869

2

941

2

797

2

43,825

1986

32,224

70

6,779

15

4,566

10

929

2

892

2

697

2

46,087

1987

33,145

71

6,745

15

4,034

9

940

2

821

2

705

2

46,390

1988

34,105

72

6,870

15

3,661

8

901

2

886

2

664

1

47,087

1989

33,599

74

6,556

14

3,135

7

822

2

822

2

648

1

45,582

1990

32,711

73

6,482

15

3,243

7

853

2

684

2

626

1

44,599

1991

30,810

74

5,801

14

2,805

7

836

2

650

2

606

1

41,508

1992

29,457

75

5,549

14

2,395

6

717

2

580

1

552

1

39,250

1993

29,994

75

5,649

14

2,445

6

806

2

590

1

666

2

40,150

1994

30,820

76

5,489

13

2,317

6

796

2

658

2

636

2

40,716

1995

31,914

76

5,584

13

2,226

5

828

2

634

2

631

2

41,817

1996

32,354

77

5,449

13

2,161

5

761

2

602

1

738

2

42,065

1997

32,343

77

5,321

13

2,116

5

811

2

717

2

705

2

42,013

1998

31,781

77

5,228

13

2,294

6

757

2

739

2

702

2

41,501

1999

32,008

77

4,939

12

2,483

6

750

2

747

2

790

2

41,717

2000

32,109

77

4,763

11

2,895

7

689

2

737

2

752

2

41,945

2001

31,938

76

4,901

12

3,195

8

729

2

691

2

742

2

42,196

2002

32,724

76

4,851

11

3,267

8

663

2

675

2

825

2

43,005

2003

32,166

75

4,774

11

3,710

9

626

1

703

2

905

2

42,884

2004

31,750

74

4,675

11

4,026

9

722

2

743

2

920

2

42,836

2005

31,455

72

4,892

11

4,575

11

784

2

758

2

1,046

2

43,510

2006

30,628

72

4,795

11

4,810

11

769

2

774

2

932

2

42,708

2007

29,155

71

4,699

11

5,174

13

699

2

745

2

787

2

41,259

2008

25,547

68

4,414

12

5,307

14

716

2

615

2

824

2

37,423

2009

23,507

69

4,109

12

4,467

13

628

2

449

1

723

2

33,883

2010

22,351

68

4,302

13

4,517

14

621

2

475

1

733

2

32,999

2011

21,413

66

4,457

14

4,630

14

680

2

555

2

744

2

32,479

2012

21,906

65

4,818

14

4,986

15

730

2

590

2

752

2

33,782

2013

21,361

65

4,779

15

4,691

14

747

2

589

2

727

2

32,894

2014

21,131

65

4,910

15

4,594

14

723

2

585

2

801

2

32,744

2015

22,741

64

5,495

15

5,026

14

828

2

598

2

797

2

35,485

2016

23,957

63

6,080

16

5,337

14

848

2

662

2

922

2

37,806

2017

23,708

64

5,977

16

5,172

14

777

2

683

2

816

2

37,133

The rate of crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled decreased from 1.19 in 2016 to 1.16 in 2017. This rate is about one-third the all-time high rate of 3.36 in 1980.
Federal Highway Administration. 2018. Highway statistics, 2017. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 1975-2017

Year

Deaths

Miles travelled (millions)

Rate

1975

44,525

1,330,074

3.35

1976

45,523

1,409,163

3.23

1977

47,878

1,476,567

3.24

1978

50,331

1,548,213

3.25

1979

51,093

1,529,133

3.34

1980

51,091

1,520,857

3.36

1981

49,301

1,550,271

3.18

1982

43,945

1,592,481

2.76

1983

42,589

1,649,106

2.58

1984

44,257

1,716,768

2.58

1985

43,825

1,774,762

2.47

1986

46,087

1,838,240

2.51

1987

46,390

1,924,327

2.41

1988

47,087

2,025,586

2.32

1989

45,582

2,107,040

2.16

1990

44,599

2,147,501

2.08

1991

41,508

2,172,214

1.91

1992

39,250

2,239,828

1.75

1993

40,150

2,296,585

1.75

1994

40,716

2,357,588

1.73

1995

41,817

2,422,775

1.73

1996

42,065

2,482,202

1.69

1997

42,013

2,560,373

1.64

1998

41,501

2,625,367

1.58

1999

41,717

2,691,335

1.55

2000

41,945

2,749,803

1.53

2001

42,196

2,781,462

1.52

2002

43,005

2,855,756

1.51

2003

42,884

2,890,893

1.48

2004

42,836

2,962,513

1.45

2005

43,510

2,989,807

1.46

2006

42,708

3,014,116

1.42

2007

41,259

3,032,399

1.36

2008

37,423

2,973,509

1.26

2009

33,883

2,977,591

1.14

2010

32,999

2,966,506

1.11

2011

32,479

2,946,131

1.10

2012

33,782

2,969,433

1.14

2013

32,894

2,988,280

1.10

2014

32,744

3,025,656

1.08

2015

35,485

3,095,373

1.15

2016

37,806

3,174,000

1.19

2017

37,133

3,213,000

1.16

Age and gender

At all ages, males had higher per capita crash death rates than females in 2017. Males ages 85 and older and 20-24 had the highest rates of crash deaths, and females ages 12 and younger had the lowest rate.

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age and gender, 2017

Age

Male

Female

Total*

Population

Deaths

Rate

Population

Deaths

Rate

Population

Deaths

Rate

<13

26,944,870

524

1.9

25,794,062

415

1.6

52,738,932

939

1.8

13-15

6,323,120

231

3.7

6,074,060

163

2.7

12,397,180

394

3.2

16-19

8,701,682

1,576

18.1

8,315,418

762

9.2

17,017,100

2,340

13.8

20-24

11,349,142

2,983

26.3

10,769,493

1,088

10.1

22,118,635

4,072

18.4

25-29

11,902,230

2,838

23.8

11,468,230

930

8.1

23,370,460

3,770

16.1

30-34

11,089,131

2,237

20.2

10,883,081

737

6.8

21,972,212

2,975

13.5

35-39

10,615,985

2,000

18.8

10,616,012

669

6.3

21,231,997

2,669

12.6

40-44

9,753,115

1,718

17.6

9,890,258

668

6.8

19,643,373

2,387

12.2

45-49

10,386,175

1,848

17.8

10,587,683

701

6.6

20,973,858

2,551

12.2

50-54

10,520,182

2,050

19.5

10,880,912

722

6.6

21,401,094

2,772

13.0

55-59

10,700,520

2,171

20.3

11,307,436

733

6.5

22,007,956

2,907

13.2

60-64

9,557,283

1,785

18.7

10,430,419

647

6.2

19,987,702

2,434

12.2

65-69

7,929,868

1,237

15.6

8,906,513

573

6.4

16,836,381

1,810

10.8

70-74

5,947,272

974

16.4

6,899,793

490

7.1

12,847,065

1,464

11.4

75-79

3,898,816

811

20.8

4,842,445

510

10.5

8,741,261

1,321

15.1

80-84

2,509,059

640

25.5

3,456,231

400

11.6

5,965,290

1,040

17.4

85+

2,279,669

686

30.1

4,189,013

463

11.1

6,468,682

1,149

17.8

Total*

160,408,119

26,380

16.4

165,311,059

10,697

6.5

325,719,178

37,133

11.4

*Total includes other and/or unknowns

From 1975 to 2017, the rate of deaths per 100,000 people declined by 77 percent for people 12 and younger (from 7.9 to 1.8), 68 percent for teenagers (from 29.4 to 9.3), 46 percent for people ages 20-34 (from 29.6 to 16.0), 30 percent for people ages 35-69 (from 17.5 to 12.3), and 44 percent for people 70 and older (from 25.9 to 14.6).

Motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people by age group, 1975-2017

Year

<13 years

13-19 years

20-34 years

35-69 years

70+ years

Population

Number

Rate

Population

Number

Rate

Population

Number

Rate

Population

Number

Rate

Population

Number

Rate

1975

45,851,304

3,643

7.9

29,795,023

8,748

29.4

50,998,098

15,074

29.6

74,764,829

13,080

17.5

14,563,945

3,775

25.9

1976

45,000,704

3,424

7.6

29,909,414

9,356

31.3

52,745,005

15,517

29.4

75,419,921

13,137

17.4

14,960,120

3,896

26.0

1977

44,337,332

3,347

7.5

29,800,313

9,633

32.3

54,497,448

17,287

31.7

76,203,083

13,460

17.7

15,401,249

3,859

25.1

1978

43,907,467

3,367

7.7

29,543,252

9,940

33.6

55,909,063

18,886

33.8

77,348,222

14,020

18.1

15,876,541

3,824

24.1

1979

43,778,959

3,171

7.2

29,077,607

9,920

34.1

57,499,197

19,675

34.2

78,311,107

14,232

18.2

16,388,617

3,772

23.0

1980

43,914,342

3,048

6.9

28,486,487

9,524

33.4

58,814,391

20,110

34.2

79,111,522

14,219

18.0

16,897,977

3,861

22.8

1981

44,049,940

2,733

6.2

27,743,947

8,315

30.0

60,563,416

19,887

32.8

79,785,591

13,950

17.5

17,322,714

3,871

22.3

1982

44,131,596

2,573

5.8

27,160,586

7,323

27.0

61,099,524

17,465

28.6

81,488,902

12,685

15.6

17,783,888

3,655

20.6

1983

44,119,297

2,518

5.7

26,737,497

6,805

25.5

61,840,154

16,853

27.3

82,861,204

12,488

15.1

18,233,751

3,734

20.5

1984

43,978,044

2,422

5.5

26,435,885

6,952

26.3

62,491,255

17,579

28.1

84,256,661

13,006

15.4

18,662,938

4,052

21.7

1985

44,260,136

2,469

5.6

26,001,247

6,737

25.9

62,961,154

17,031

27.1

85,628,410

13,126

15.3

19,072,785

4,206

22.1

1986

44,755,454

2,537

5.7

25,592,481

7,466

29.2

63,115,889

18,132

28.7

87,205,537

13,263

15.2

19,463,480

4,445

22.8

1987

45,348,247

2,654

5.9

25,209,615

7,293

28.9

63,032,298

17,676

28.0

88,808,046

14,074

15.8

19,890,817

4,555

22.9

1988

45,942,966

2,701

5.9

25,004,445

7,242

29.0

62,784,739

17,613

28.1

90,464,406

14,458

16.0

20,302,280

4,925

24.3

1989

46,690,604

2,658

5.7

24,664,300

6,688

27.1

62,494,056

16,512

26.4

92,250,762

14,651

15.9

20,719,397

4,943

23.9

1990

47,472,527

2,332

4.9

24,404,795

6,364

26.1

62,282,683

16,366

26.3

94,140,108

14,568

15.5

21,164,283

4,844

22.9

1991

48,240,747

2,257

4.7

24,066,587

5,760

23.9

62,025,750

14,949

24.1

96,068,111

13,587

14.1

21,751,897

4,843

22.3

1992

48,903,668

2,165

4.4

24,163,175

5,215

21.6

61,427,100

13,445

21.9

98,214,539

13,414

13.7

22,321,217

4,901

22.0

1993

49,335,864

2,164

4.4

24,664,091

5,421

22.0

60,582,332

13,456

22.2

100,399,648

13,748

13.7

22,800,673

5,221

22.9

1994

49,692,462

2,301

4.6

25,219,838

5,632

22.3

59,629,351

13,020

21.8

102,541,525

14,251

13.9

23,243,845

5,425

23.3

1995

49,920,484

2,201

4.4

25,764,300

5,675

22.0

58,712,407

13,330

22.7

104,712,328

15,018

14.3

23,693,757

5,509

23.3

1996

50,085,188

2,186

4.4

26,357,198

5,819

22.1

57,753,910

12,869

22.3

106,975,953

15,496

14.5

24,056,323

5,578

23.2

1997

50,364,983

2,108

4.2

26,730,812

5,730

21.4

57,046,569

12,334

21.6

109,232,426

15,860

14.5

24,408,817

5,872

24.1

1998

50,527,476

2,032

4.0

27,174,728

5,610

20.6

56,421,053

11,785

20.9

111,331,195

16,185

14.5

24,793,551

5,798

23.4

1999

50,667,139

1,997

3.9

27,518,156

5,752

20.9

55,961,401

11,840

21.2

113,451,312

16,384

14.4

25,092,805

5,657

22.5

2000

52,219,423

1,888

3.6

28,326,412

5,685

20.1

58,971,709

12,174

20.6

117,114,739

16,700

14.3

25,559,879

5,379

21.0

2001

52,341,395

1,751

3.3

28,437,711

5,594

19.7

59,465,066

12,375

20.8

119,060,436

16,934

14.2

25,797,467

5,425

21.0

2002

52,332,306

1,617

3.1

28,644,313

5,954

20.8

60,046,068

12,609

21.0

120,913,207

17,374

14.4

26,005,326

5,332

20.5

2003

52,187,602

1,643

3.1

29,028,500

5,718

19.7

60,599,350

12,365

20.4

122,772,578

17,705

14.4

26,200,946

5,363

20.5

2004

52,151,406

1,645

3.2

29,400,392

5,645

19.2

61,003,240

12,620

20.7

124,762,848

17,707

14.2

26,337,518

5,106

19.4

2005

52,149,395

1,529

2.9

29,589,854

5,300

17.9

61,180,772

13,023

21.3

126,831,714

18,491

14.6

26,658,669

5,047

18.9

2006

52,306,908

1,430

2.7

29,772,198

5,159

17.3

61,527,219

13,142

21.4

128,907,361

18,233

14.1

26,884,798

4,636

17.2

2007

52,585,809

1,269

2.4

29,775,943

4,981

16.7

61,623,322

12,531

20.3

130,500,566

17,725

13.6

27,135,517

4,631

17.1

2008

52,929,779

1,047

2.0

29,710,307

4,070

13.7

61,990,546

11,406

18.4

131,908,058

16,538

12.5

27,521,034

4,291

15.6

2009

53,753,412

1,066

2.0

29,667,279

3,480

11.7

63,105,881

9,940

15.8

132,693,708

15,340

11.6

27,786,270

3,995

14.4

2010

52,943,218

962

1.8

30,324,338

3,121

10.3

62,649,947

9,684

15.5

134,995,314

15,015

11.1

27,832,721

4,171

15.0

2011

52,950,108

908

1.7

29,895,041

3,033

10.1

63,944,330

9,633

15.1

136,282,085

14,782

10.8

28,520,353

4,071

14.3

2012

52,872,572

958

1.8

29,632,228

2,837

9.6

64,892,524

10,210

15.7

137,348,713

15,614

11.4

29,168,003

4,113

14.1

2013

52,723,720

940

1.8

29,524,367

2,543

8.6

65,640,025

9,908

15.1

138,145,370

15,298

11.1

30,095,357

4,150

13.8

2014

52,666,129

875

1.7

29,469,473

2,630

8.9

66,428,678

9,879

14.9

139,374,831

15,073

10.8

30,917,945

4,206

13.6

2015

52,747,095

946

1.8

29,378,595

2,747

9.4

66,876,515

10,608

15.9

140,723,231

16,677

11.9

31,693,384

4,427

14.0

2016

52,767,670

1,033

2.0

29,359,997

2,837

9.7

67,156,940

11,368

16.9

141,678,551

17,601

12.4

32,442,777

4,848

14.9

2017

52,738,932

939

1.8

29,414,280

2,734

9.3

67,461,307

10,817

16.0

142,082,361

17,530

12.3

34,022,298

4,974

14.6

Seat belt use

According to a national daytime observational survey of motorists, seat belt use among front seat occupants was 89.7 percent in 2017.
Li, R., & Pickrell, T. M. (2018, April, revised). Seat belt use in 2017—Overall results. (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 812 465). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Unrestrained vehicle occupants are more likely than restrained occupants to be fatally injured in a crash, so belt use is much lower among fatally injured occupants. Among fatally injured passenger vehicle occupants age 13 and older in 2017, 49 percent of drivers and 46 percent of passengers were belted. These rates represent a 48 percent increase and a 59 percent increase, respectively, compared with 1995, when only 33 percent of fatally injured drivers and 29 percent of fatally injured passengers were belted.

Speeding

In 2017, speeding was a factor in 26 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths since 2008. Speeding is defined to include crashes in which the driver was issued a traffic citation for speeding or in which driver-related factors included driving too fast for conditions, racing or exceeding the posted speed limit.